BioConsortia, Inc. develops microbial products that protect plants, boost fertility, and increase yields. This week the US firm has announced its 2022 field trial results for its nematicide seed treatment products. These bring two new nematicide leads into the development pipeline, bringing the number of products in mid-to-late-stage development as nematicides applied as seed treatments to five. Selecting single-strain, spore-forming beneficial bacteria The five product leads ready for partnering from the BioConsortia nematicide pipeline are each based on single-strain, spore-forming beneficial bacteria. They were originally identified and optimised using the company’s patented Advanced Microbial Selection (AMS) process, which is used…
Author: Matt Peskett
Matt Peskett
Matt has worked in digital publishing and media for over two decades across the science, technology, food and agricultural sectors. With a lifelong passion for growing his own food, Matt also produces 300kg giant pumpkins for exhibition and volunteers with the Royal Horticultural Society. He has a sizeable horticultural social media presence and has been a finalist in the Garden Media Guild's blog of the year and social media awards. Matt also dabbles in start-up investment with companies like Small Robot Company, Drone Ag and RootWave.
California-based robotic farming company – Verdant Robotics – has this week announced the closure of a US$46.5 million Series A funding round. The investment injection will be used to scale the firm’s advanced robotic technology and accelerate broad adoption of its regenerative and precision ag solutions. Verdant’s multi-action, autonomous platform is the only ag robot in the U.S. market that can simultaneously weed, fertilise, and treat plants for pests and diseases – all while collecting data on each plant allowing farmers to make decisions in real time. Its Robotics-As-A-Service (RaaS) is already in use across a wide variety of specialty…
John Deere has been named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Best of Innovation honouree in the Robotics category, and an honouree in the Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility category for its fully autonomous tractor. This is the fourth consecutive year John Deere has received an Innovation Award from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The announcement was made ahead of CES 2023, the world’s most influential technology event, during which John Deere will deliver a keynote. CES 2023 takes place January 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV and digitally. John Deere’s fully autonomous tractor integrates technology such as cameras, artificial intelligence (AI),…
Bosch, BASF Digital Farming, Amazone, and the University of Hohenheim have joined forces on a project which will conduct research into the use of high-performance sensors for smart herbicide application as a means of effective, agronomic weed control. The ‘HoPla project’ aims to investigate how optical technologies and artificial intelligence can assist with the targeted application of herbicides in the field. Improving optical sensor systems and processors Targeted application of herbicides through smart spraying at a ‘per plant’ level requires accurate smart cameras and supporting software technology to control application. As part of their ‘HoPla’ collaborative project, experts from the…
John Deere has kicked off the new year by unveiling its ground-breaking autonomous 8R tractor at the CES 2022 technology show (5th-8th Jan in Las Vegas). The agricultural machinery manufacturer expects to roll out its self-driving machine to farms within months. It combines Deere’s 8R tractor, TruSet-enabled chisel plough, GPS guidance system, and new advanced technologies. “It’s working today and it’s ready for production. This isn’t a concept machine, this isn’t a demo, this is a working machine that will be available later this year to farmers and it will transform their lives.” said an enthusiastic Deanna Kovar – VP…
Japanese technology firm Kubota has invested in US start-up Bloomfield Robotics, Inc. a company that uses image analysis technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to assess plant growth and detect pests on grape vines, blueberries, and other orchard crops. Bloomfield’s cameras are mounted on farm vehicles to rapidly collect high-res images of individual plants as they are passed. Images are assessed for key crop growth indicators such as the colour, maturity, size of fruits (yield) and leaves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n17OGf3mXKE AI processes and analyses the image data to make harvest and crop protection recommendations to customers via its BloomAI dashboard. Ultimately Bloomfield provides…
Today saw Danish farm robotics company AgroIntelli win an Agritechnica Innovation Award with RoboVeg Ltd AND announce the launch of its new long-range (LR) ROBOTTI autonomous implement carrier. The ROBOTTI LR is a new single engine version of the 150D robot with space for a larger 300 litre capacity diesel engine, this allows the carrier to operate for up to 60 hours non-stop before refuelling. The new ROBOTTI LR also has a greater lift capacity of 1250kg compared with the 150D’s lift capacity of 750kg. The company says that with its two smaller engines the ROBOTTI 150D remains better equipped…
The 2022 Agritechnica Innovation Award winners have been announced today by organisers The DLG (German Agricultural Society). The annual agricultural innovation awards scheme has chosen one gold and sixteen silver winners with the reduction of soil compaction a particular focus in both the gold AND silver categories. GOLD – NeXaT GmbH’s Autonomous Implement Carrier NeXaT GmbH has won the only gold award with its autonomous carrier vehicle ‘NeXaT-Systemtraktor’ – a machine which integrates implements used in crop production, tilling, sowing, spraying and harvesting. Instead of conventional hauling, the implements are carried which leads to increased efficiency compared to tractor and…
New Holland has chosen Italy as the location for its first official smart farm. The ‘New Holland Smart Farm’ will be located in Bologna at ‘Il Raccolto’ or ‘The Collection’ – an agricultural co-operative that cultivates around 1,400 hectares (3,500 acres) of land to grow cereals, wheat, livestock feed crops and grapes. Through the partnership the farm will go on to demonstrate successful sustainable farming with a connected fleet environment, energy-independence and a circular economy model. Connected fleet environment Il Raccolto farm already runs a fleet of more than 80 New Holland machines made up of the brand’s most advanced…
Soil compaction is a major problem for farmers dependent upon heavy machinery and implements. It reduces the ability of soil to absorb water and cuts aeration, this makes it harder for plant roots to penetrate the soil, inhibiting growth as well as increasing standing water and long term erosion. If the weight of vehicles passing over arable land is not well distributed the problem is further exacerbated. Two firms addressing on-farm soil compaction are Continental and John Deere. Working with ADAS soil scientist John Williams, tyre manufacturer Continental has highlighted that up to 30% of soils in the UK are…
